Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed the £15 Congestion Charge will remain in place after a temporary hike.
Fees were bumped up from £11.50 in 2020 as an emergency measure during the pandemic to ensure traffic was reduced so that essential journeys could continue to take place.
Now, following a 10-week consultation that saw nearly 10,000 responses, TfL has confirmed the £15 Congestion Charge will remain in place.
Revised measures mean that from February 21, there will be no charges in the evenings after 6pm, and operating hours on weekends and bank holidays will reduce to noon until 6pm.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “The Government insisted on proposals to widen the level and scope of the Congestion Charge last year as a condition of TfL’s emergency funding agreement – which was only needed because of the pandemic and the collapse in fares revenue.
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“These new changes strike a balance between reducing traffic and congestion and supporting London’s economy and residents and helping ensure our recovery is a green and sustainable one.
“The removal of the evening charge will support the capital’s culture, hospitality and night-time businesses which have struggled so much, as well as encouraging people to walk, cycle and use public transport. It’s vital we do not encourage a car-led recovery and replace one public health crisis with another due to filthy air.”
The Congestion Charge will also be suspended between Christmas and the first working day of the New Year.
Alex Williams, TfL’s Director of City Planning, added: “As London continues its recovery from the pandemic it is essential that we encourage people to travel sustainably. These changes are targeted at reducing traffic at the busiest times where we have seen a long-term trend in high levels of car travel.
“We expect to see growth in the number of people walking, cycling and using public transport in central London as a result.
“The removal of the charge in the evening will help shift workers who perform essential roles at the heart of the city and support London’s vibrant cultural and hospitality sectors who are still recovering from the pandemic.”
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